A Light Table or a Day-lit Window

Using a light table is a tried and proven method for transferring quilting designs. Any glass surface will work; a window with daylight beyond it or a glass table with a lamp beneath it.

A glass table is preferable when transferring a large or complicated design. Reaching and standing with your arm extended while using a window can be a bit fatiguing. If using a marking pen at the window remember to keep the pen held at a downward slant in order to keep the marking fluid flowing.

One of the nice aspects of the light source transfer method is that the printed quilting design is reusable. You simply re-position the fabric over the design each time you need to mark a new area.

You will need

A see-through light sourceEither a daylit window or a glass table with an upward facing lamp beneath it will work well for this transfer technique (using a glass patio table on a bright day may also work).

Quilting designPrint-out a quilting design in the appropriate size for your project. (Use our FREE Virtual Re-Size Calculator to quickly and easily determine the enlargement or reduction ratio you need!)

Place your fabric over the design in the desired position. Tape or clamp the fabric to the glass to keep it from shifting during the marking process. Larger or heavier fabric pieces may need a stronger tape if you are using the window method. (If the tape leaves a residue on the glass, you can use denatured alcohol to remove it.)

Trace the design directly on the fabric with the erasablemarking pen, pencil or chalk tool. When marking directly on the fabric, always test the process or technique on a scrap piece of the actual fabric you will be using. Some marking methods are not easily removed.